CLARKS SUMMIT — Art, community and history are blended in with the colorful paints of two new murals, which will be affixed to the chain link fence at the Finish Shop Pocket Park on Depot Street.

The artists are students, ages 9 and up, of the Abington Art Studio’s mural camp, held July 13-17. According to studio owner Diana Lombardi, on the first day campers visited the Clarks Summit Borough Building, where borough manager Virginia Kehoe showed them pictures and literature about the town’s early history. They then set about incorporating those images into their first mural.

“It was important for us to look for icons in the area to represent what Clarks Summit was like at the time,” Lombardi said.

Those painted on the mural include the clock tower, a locomotive at the train station, the old fire station, the Tennant Hotel and a trolley car. The painting also features the top of a picket fence with bright yellow and orange flowers poking up from behind, representing the pocket park and it’s new place in the community.

“It was fun to paint this, because it’s so big,” said Hayley Smeraldi, a young artist from Clarks Summit. “And I like it because it has so many images that represent old-time Clarks Summit.”

Liz Cowgil, of Clarks Summit, enjoyed the historical aspect of the project, as well.

“It was fun making it for the pocket park so people could see it and learn about the history of Clarks Summit,” she said.

Sarah Horne, of Clarks Summit, another of the artists, said it was researching the area’s history which helped unite the campers as a group. She said each of them had their own “vision” for the project when they started, but when they began getting into the history, it all came together.

The artwork itself also reflects this togetherness.

“All the images on the mural show that we’re one as a community,” said camper Tori Morris, of Clarks Summit.

The girls’ second mural illustrates an even more direct manor. It depicts their own silhouettes as they hold each other’s hands, stretching their arms toward the sky.

“I think that this whole project definitely brought us together as a community,” said artist Isabel Hou, of Clarks Summit, adding how proud she is of her fellow-campers. “Our group was very talented.”

Julia Braatz, of Waverly, agreed, saying she hopes Depot Street visitors will enjoy their work.

“People should come to the park to see our mural, because it was a great accomplishment,” she said.

Painting a mural at Abington Art Studio, Depot Street, Clarks Summit, for the new Finish Shop Pocket Park down the street are, from left, Hayley Smeraldi, Liz Cowgil, Tori Morris, Julia Braatz, Isabel Hou and Julia Farrell.
http://www.theabingtonjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/web1_ABJ-Mural-1.jpg.optimal.jpgPainting a mural at Abington Art Studio, Depot Street, Clarks Summit, for the new Finish Shop Pocket Park down the street are, from left, Hayley Smeraldi, Liz Cowgil, Tori Morris, Julia Braatz, Isabel Hou and Julia Farrell. Elizabeth Baumeister photos | Abington Journal

Holding their almost complete project from a week-long mural camp at Abington Art Studio in front of the fence to which it will be affixed in the Finish Shop Pocket Park are, from left, Camp Instructor Liz Leslie, Sarah Horne, Tori Morris, Julia Farrell, Isabel Hou, Hayley Smeraldi, Liz Cowgil, Maria Veniamin, Julia Braatz and studio owner Diana Lombardi.
http://www.theabingtonjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/web1_ABJ-Mural-2.jpg.optimal.jpgHolding their almost complete project from a week-long mural camp at Abington Art Studio in front of the fence to which it will be affixed in the Finish Shop Pocket Park are, from left, Camp Instructor Liz Leslie, Sarah Horne, Tori Morris, Julia Farrell, Isabel Hou, Hayley Smeraldi, Liz Cowgil, Maria Veniamin, Julia Braatz and studio owner Diana Lombardi. Elizabeth Baumeister photos | Abington Journal

Julia Farrell paints during a mural camp at Abington Art Studio, Clarks Summit.
http://www.theabingtonjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/web1_ABJ-Mural-3.jpg.optimal.jpgJulia Farrell paints during a mural camp at Abington Art Studio, Clarks Summit. Elizabeth Baumeister photos | Abington Journal

Hayley Smeraldi works on a mural at Abington Art Studio.
http://www.theabingtonjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/web1_ABJ-Mural-4.jpg.optimal.jpgHayley Smeraldi works on a mural at Abington Art Studio. Elizabeth Baumeister photos | Abington Journal

Julia Braatz helps paint a mural for the Finish Shop Pocket Park on Depot Street, Clarks Summit.
http://www.theabingtonjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/web1_ABJ-Mural-5.jpg.optimal.jpgJulia Braatz helps paint a mural for the Finish Shop Pocket Park on Depot Street, Clarks Summit. Elizabeth Baumeister photos | Abington Journal

By Elizabeth Baumeister

ebaumeister@civitasmedia.com

 

Reach Elizabeth Baumeister at 570-704-3943 or on Twitter @AbingtonJournal.